Pedallers and pushers prepare for Krem race

Good evening I’m James Adderley and welcome to our closeout show for the year 2002. The sporting community at large might have taken the Christmas pause, but the fever is growing inside the football world as the Belize Premier Football League heads into its playoff round beginning January fourth and fifth.

We are therefore very privileged to present to you, Omario Perdomo B.P.F.L. Commissioner and his Deputy Commissioner, Reynaldo Malik. We were also joined in this conversation later on by Alex “Camel” Haylock, the manager of Kulture Yabra.

Omario Perdomo, Commissioner B.P.F.L.

“This year 2002, was a lot of trials in football. We still had a struggle with this F.F.B. We are hoping this coming new year that will be all cleared up and we’ll be back to normal. We are waiting from responses from FIFA concerning that, as everybody knows, the FIFA President was here, we made our presentation, he did not take the documents, but the CONCACAF president did and we are awaiting a response because upon his advice we wrote them and we’re waiting for that to clear up. The other thing coming up is of our playoffs this week. We were supposed to start yesterday, but the four teams got together and decided we’d take a break. We’re kicking off on Saturday with Sagitun versus Builder’s Hardware Bandits at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium and Kulture Yabra versus San Pedro in Belize City.”

Reynaldo Malik, Dep. Commissioner, B.P.F.L.

“This year’s playoffs have everything. It’s like a soap opera. We have the fairy tale story, the San Pedro Turquoise, a team that had to fight for their lives in the B.P.F.L. and has now made it all the way to the playoffs, there’s no telling what they’re going to do, what kind of havoc they’re gonna wreck in the playoffs. We have the perennial champions Kulture Yabra that have to go up against not one, but two of their nemesis in the likes of Sagitun, who took a break last year, but is back in full stride, and also Builders Bandits who started out the season somewhat inconspicuous, but have somewhat righted the ship and made it all the way into the playoffs.”

James Adderley

“Is there a team you see as being a dominant force?”

Reynaldo Malik

“There is always the dominant defence of Yabra. Of late, Bandits has shown a partnership between Julio Valle and Derris Benavides as well as Jair Perrera. They seem to have a very potent offensive power right now. Sagitun is an even keel ship and San Pedro is the wild card.”

James Adderley

“Which team would you prefer to meet in the finals should you go on to the finals?”

Alex Haylock, Manager, Kulture Yabra

“Belmopan. Belmopan is one of the hottest teams right now and I think they’re playing good ball, and I think that’s the team to beat right now apart from Kulture Yabra.”

James Adderley

“Going into the playoffs, do you feel that same confidence that Kulture Yabra will be able to prevail again?”

Alex Haylock

“Oh yes! My team is ready. We put in a lot of work to get out the best of it, so right now my team and ready and I don’t think nobody’s gonna beat us in the finals.”

James Adderley

“We must give you credit for have the best defence in the season. However, you have been somewhat shaky on offence of late.”

Alex Haylock

“Well people are saying we’re shaky because we’re winning one-nothing and stuff like that. But one-nothing, we’re winning, so to me that’s not shaky.”

James Adderley

“The score doesn’t bother me as long as we get the W.”

Alex Haylock

“It doesn’t bother me as long as we get the W.”

James Adderley

“Well we’re not into the prediction business, but with your confidence, give us a prediction of how this…it’s a double round robin format, so you’ll be playing six matches?”

Alex Haylock

“Yeah. We’re supposed to play six matches and I think for qualify you for the finals, so we’re about to win the first four and be ready for who’s gonna meet us at the finals.”

In the meantime folks, the B.P.F.L. B league continued through the Christmas weekend with three matches completed on Sunday. Valley Pride beat Yabra Rasta 2-1, Kulture Yabra settled for a 2-2 draw with Jacintoville and Cristo Rey Kings and Caye Caulker battled to a 1-1 stalemate.

In cycling news, the Krem Cycle Classic kicks off the annual calendar on January first with the ride from Corozal to the Belcan Bridge in Belize City. Going in, Barney Brown is the defending champion after that impressive ride last year. But look out for cyclist of the year 2002, Ernest Meighan and Big Mike Lewis, both are riding impressively of late and the question begs to be asked, who will it be come January first.

That’s our show for today, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.

Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.